Underwood



March 10, 1964 T. UNDERWOOD 3,123,916

ADJUSTABLE SHOT sun FLIGHT SIGHT Filed 001;. 22, 1962 INVENTOR. J Thomas Underwaad United States Patent 3,123,916 ADJUSTABLE SHOT GUN FLIGHT SIGHT Thomas Underwood, C. H. Hartin, Rte. 1, Box 70,

Krum, Tex. Filed Oct. 2'2, 1962, Ser. No. 232,232 Claims. (Cl. 33-56) This invention relates to firearms and, more particular- 1y, to an adjustable sight for shot guns.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable shot gun sight especially adaptable for shooting at moving targets, such as birds in flight.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable shot gun sight of the type described which can be readily mounted upon double barrel shot guns and single barrel shot guns in a simple and convenient manner.

Still an additional object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable shot gun sight of the foregoing type which allows for a target lead, and which is also adjustable in elevation by adjustment of the rear sight thereof.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of an adjustable shot gun flight sight made in accordance with the present invention applied to a double barreled shot gun;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the assembly shown in FIGURE 1;

' FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the flight sight removed from the firearm;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged transverse cross sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a clamp assembly for mounting the flight sight shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 upon a single barrel shot gun.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGURES 1 to 4 thereof, an adjustable shot gun flight sight made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a mounting plate 12 having a pair of threaded studs extending through longitudinally spaced apart portions of the mounting plate for threaded engagement with the center rib 16 of a double barrel shot gun, to mount the mounting plate centrally thereupon in alignment with the barrels.

A rear sight plate 18 having an upstanding rear sight 20, is secured by means of a screw 22 upon the rear end of the mounting plate 12. However, an adjustable set screw 24 carried by the plate 18, provides for vertical adjustment of the rear sight to adjust the vertical sighting of the shot gun.

A front sight assembly is also provided in the form of a front sight bar 26 which is of generally cruciform configuration having an elongated main spar terminating in a point 38 that is in abutment with a cut-out sector 39 of the rear sight plate 18. A cross piece 34 of the front sight bar 26 has a slot 32 through which a clamp screw 30 carried by the mounting plate 12 extends. Upstanding finger pieces 36 at each end of the cross piece 34, provides means for adjusting the lateral position of the front end of the front sight bar 26 and its upstanding front sights 28 relative to the longitudinal axis of the mounting plate 12. However, with the base 38 of the main spar of the front sight bar 26 in abutment with the cut-out sector 39 of the rear sight plate 18, causes the front sight bar 26 to move in an are about a center of curvature substantially located in the vicinity of the rear sight plate 18, and more specifically at the point 38 of the front sight bar.

The front sight bar is also provided with indexing means in the form of a ball detent 42 that is carried by the mounting plate 12 and which projects upwardly beneath the main spar of the front sight bar 26. The lower surface of this portion of the front sight bar 26 is provided with a series of downwardly opening indcnts 40 which receive the upstanding ball detent 42 in each of the adjusted positions of the front sight bar. Thus, by loosening the guide screw 30, the front sight bar can be moved to the right or left into the positions provided by the indents 40, to provide a sighting lead of the shot gun relative to a moving target. For example, in aiming at a duck in flight moving from left to right, the front sight bar 26 is moved to a position to the left of its centered position, thus automatically providing a lead for the shot gun upon firing.

The flight sight is readily adaptable for use with single barrel shot guns, as shown in FIGURE 5, by means of a clamp assembly 50. A pair of the clamps 50 is used to secure the mounting plate 12 upon the barrel 56 of a single barrel shot gun. Each such clamp assembly 50 includes a pair of clamp elements 52 having arcuate lower portions 54 for engagement with the shot gun barrel 56, and a pair of inwardly directed flanges 58 for engagement with the main mounting plate 12. The respective clamping elements are brought into engagement with the respective members by tightening a bolt 60 extending between the mid portions of each of the clamp elements 52.

It will now be recognized that this flight sight is readily adapted to all types of standard shot guns in a simple and convenient manner. By experimentation, the proper elevation for the rear sight 20 can be established, as well as the extent of lateral adjustment of the front sight bar 26, relative to the estimated distance of the target. With utilization of these adjustment features, the score can be substantially improved with the resulting of more positive kills and minimum waste of shells.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A lead compensating sight for shot guns comprising, in combination, a mounting plate, mounting means for securing said mounting plate upon a shot gun barrel,, a rear sigh t gticaflyadjustably mounted upon one rear end of said plate, a front sight bar supported upon said plate having" a front sight element upstanding from said rear bar adjacent to the opposite front end of said plate, and indexing means acting between said front end bar and said plate for selectivelyflfotating .,saigl front sight bar from a centered position in both directions a limited extent about a center of curvature adjacent said rear sight to adjust the line of sight between said front and rear sight relative to the axis of the gun barrel.

2. A lead compensating sight for shot guns as set forth in claim 1, wherein said front sight bar is of generally cruciform configuration having an elongated main spar -apd a transyersely extending cross piece, said cross piece having a slot, and a screw carried by said mounting plate extending through said slot guiding said front sight bar for said selective rotation.

3. A lead -compensating sight for shot guns as set forth in claim 2, wherein said indexing means comprises a ball detent carried by said mounting plate projecting upwardly from the surface thereof beneath said front sight bar, and said front sight bar as a plurality of downwardly opening indents receiving said ball detent in adjusted 10 in claim 3, wherein said mounting means comprises a pair of bolts extending through longitudinally spaced apart portions of said mounting plate for threaded engagement with the center rib of a double barrel shot gun.

5. A lead compensating sight for shot guns as set forth in claim 3, wherein said mounting means comprises a pair of clamps clampingly engaging longitudinally spaced apart portions of said mounting plate and the barrel of a single barrel shot gun.

No references cited. 

1. A LEAD COMPENSATING SIGHT FOR SHOT GUNS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A MOUNTING PLATE, MOUNTING MEANS FOR SECURING SAID MOUNTING PLATE UPON A SHOT GUN BARREL, A REAR SIGHT VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED UPON ONE REAR END OF SAID PLATE, A FRONT SIGHT BAR SUPPORTED UPON SAID PLATE HAVING A FRONT SIGHT ELEMENT UPSTANDING FROM SAID REAR BAR ADJACENT TO THE OPPOSITE FRONT END OF SAID PLATE, AND INDEXING MEANS ACTING BETWEEN SAID FRONT END BAR AND SAID 